Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Sriharikota to witness the launch of ISRO's PSLV C-23 rocket, today said his government is committed to give impetus to the country's space programme.A

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Sriharikota to witness the launch of ISRO's PSLV C-23 rocket, today said his government is committed to give impetus to the country's space programme.

A few hours after he landed at the spaceport, about 100 kilometers from here by a special helicopter from Chennai, Modi tweeted, “Will be in Sriharikota this evening & tomorrow morning for launch of PSLV-C23. Will meet scientists during my visit. Looking forward.”

In another tweet few minutes later, he said, “Our Government is committed to give further impetus to our Space Programme.”

A senior ISRO official told PTI from Sriharikota that the PM was being taken to the launch pad to witness the PSLV-C23 launch vehicle and GSLV Mk III Vehicle Assembly Building and would be briefed by scientists.

Meanwhile, ISRO said the countdown was progressing smoothly and Nitrogen Tetraoxide (N2O4) Propellant filling operation of Second Stage (PS2) of PSLV-C23 has been completed at 6.30 PM today.

PSLV C23 is scheduled to lift off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 9.52 AM tomorrow with five foreign satellites from four countries.